El uso de medicina alternativa y medicina tradicional en Medellín, 2005 / Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005

RESUMEN

Objetivos: establecer los recursos de salud que los habitantes de Medellín buscan cuando se sienten enfermos y las razones que los llevan a tomar esas decisiones, indagando, además sobre el uso de medicina tradicional y medicina alternativa. Métodos: investigación cualitativa sustentada en la teoría fundada y en métodos rápidos de recolección de información. Se realizaron 46 entrevistas semiestructuradas a personas de diferentes estratos sociales de la ciudad de Medellín, entre los meses de julio a septiembre del 2005. Resultados: se encontró que las prácticas propias de la medicina tradicional son un recurso buscado por muchas personas, especialmente las de menores recursos financieros. Estas prácticas han asumido nuevos nombres para adaptarse a las tendencias en medicina pero, en lo fundamental, conservan las características propias de la medicina tradicional colombiana. La medicina alternativa es buscada por personas de estratos superiores y su uso está vinculado a la búsqueda de tratamientos integrales para las enfermedades y a la insatisfacción que algunas personas sienten frente a ciertas características de la medicina occidental y del sistema de salud colombiano.

ABSTRACT

Objective: to explore health resources chosen by Medellín’s residents when they feel ill and the reasons why they decide to use Colombian folk medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine resources. Methods: this research was based on the premises shared by the majority of the qualitative methods, and specially by two methodologies the Grounded Theory (GT) and Rapid Assessment Process (RAP). Forty-six people from various social classes, who were affiliated with different health insurance companies as well as uninsured were interviewed. Interviews were carried out from July to September 2005. Results: the study found that many people, especially those with low or very low income seek Colombian folk medicine practices resources when they feel sick. These practices and their practitioners have taken new names to adapt themselves to new tendencies in medicine but they actually keep the traditional characteristics of Colombian folk medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and bioenergetics exercised by physicians licensed from certified universities are sought mostly by middle and upper class people, especially by those with a high educational level. These patients have in common that they feel discomfort with the biologist emphasis of Western medicine so they seek an integral treatment integrating body, mind, and spirit.